Contribute/WPR/Community Space Initiative

Community Space Initiative 2014

Below is outline of the community space initiative developed by William Quiviger (CBT) and Rob Middleton (WPR) and currently being implemented in Q2-Q4 of 2014.

Context

Mozilla’s top level goal for 2014 is to increase its active contributor base by 10X. Mozilla’s spaces can play a critical role in supporting this goal.

We need to evolve our informal, organic and ad hoc approach to using our community spaces into a strategic, intentional and scalable approach.

Vision

When we create the right space for people passionate about the open web, great outcomes happen and great products are made.

Mozilla volunteer-run spaces around the world can attract talent, strengthen community cohesion, become a major contribution funnels, and ultimately play a critical role in supporting Mozilla’s10x goal.

Objective

Launch a Mozilla “Community Space Initiative” to empower communities to run their own physical work spaces where Mozillians and open web aficionados can meet, share, learn, hack and collaborate in person.

What are Community Spaces?

Physical spaces where Mozilla core contributors can meet and work in person, as well as host events to promote Mozilla's products and contribution opportunities.

They can vary in size and type depending on the needs of the local community

They are financially supported and supervised by Mozilla but are managed by local Mozilla Reps who are responsible for them.

Why Community Spaces ?

There is strong desire expressed across all communities to have a space to work together in person

Working in person helps strengthen bonds within a community, it encourages sharing and cross-pollination and enables the community to work more effectively

Expanding Mozilla’s physical footprint around the world will help us reach more audiences across more countries, especially as we roll out Fx OS, especially in countries (where we have no offices)

Opportunity

Hundreds of Mozilla Reps with extensive experience in the project and running events in more than 80 countries are on the ground and can do the legwork to help find/run these spaces

Cost of rent and logistics is relatively low in most countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, where our most dynamic communities are located

All funding and remote coordination of spaces can be done via the existing Mozilla Reps platform

Types of Community Spaces

Shared co-working space: Mozilla volunteers rent out space from an existing co-working space run by a third party